Researchers documented two sacoglossan sea-slug species shedding nearly the entire body behind the head—including the heart—and surviving. In Elysia cf. marginata, the detached head sealed its wound, began feeding within hours, and regenerated a new body in roughly three weeks. The abandoned body never grew a new head. The slugs retain working chloroplasts from algae they eat, and researchers think that borrowed photosynthesis may help keep the head alive during reconstruction.








